Thorne Bay, Alaska History

Thorne Bay, Alaska was named after Frank Manley Thorn, Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Geodetics Survey from 1885 through 1889. His name was misspelled when the charts were published. The first major settlement was built around the logging operation of Wes Davidson in South Thorne Bay. Davidson Landing, near the South Thorne Bay Dock, still bears his family name. The current community of Thorne Bay was established when Ketchikan Pulp Co. moved its main logging camp here from Hollis. It began as a floating camp in 1960. In 1962 a shop, barge terminal, Log Sort Yard, and camp were completed. During its heyday in the 60’s and 70’s it was the largest logging camp in North America with over 600 residents during peak seasons.

Thorne Bay evolved from a company owned logging camp to an incorporated second-class city in 1982. The Ketchikan Pulp Company will finish their final timber sale obligations in 2001 and depart. Thorne Bay’s 584 current residents will be left with a rich history of “Big Time” logging and an economy in transition.